Engine-governor



(No Model.) 3"Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. & B. 0. BALL.

ENGINE GOVERNOR.

Patented Oct. 12,1897.

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u m V 0 BG 4 E ..M HE P No. 591,447. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

W TNE SES' INVENTOHS 5M m 64! M ATTORNEYS '(NogMod'eLy 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. H. &' B. 0. BALL. ENGINE GOVERNOR.

No. 591,447. Patented Oct; 12,1897.

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' UNITED STAT S PATENT O FI E.

FRANK H. BALL AND BERT O. BALL'TOFPLAINFIELD, lVEVV JERSEY.-

ENGIN E-G OVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,447, dated October 12, 1897. Application filed December 7, 1896. Serial No. 614,696. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that we, FRANK H. BALL and BERT 0. BALL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine- Governors; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to engine-governors; and it consists-in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinaf-L ter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. 7

More particularly it relates to that class of governors which act through a throttlingvalve or indirectly upon the main valve or other regulator as distinguished from what is commonly known as a shaft-governor.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section on line 1 1 in Figs. 2 and 3.

the Fig. '2 shows an elevation looking from the right of Fig. 1 and the bottom of Fig. 3, parts being broken away to better show construct-ion. Fig. 3 shows a plan view. Fig. 4 shows a section similar to Fig. 1, with the governor connected to a regulatin g means other than the throttling-valve.

The governor is mounted in a standard 'A, which is provided with a bearing a,in which is j ournaled the carrier B by means of a sleeve B. Motion is communicated to the carrier through the intermedium of the gears O and D, shaft D, journaled in the bearing a, and the belt-pulley D which is driven by the engine.

Two weights E E are connected by arms E E one to each of two other weights E E. The arms E are pivoted intermediately of the weights E and E bymeans of pins bl to the arms I) of the carrier. Link-pins f are pivoted in the arms E preferably about at the center of gravity in the arms and Weights E E. To the link-pinsf are pivotally attached links by means of a pivot-pin f, secured to a block F on the link-pin f. The links F are pivotally secured to a T-block G by means of pivotpins f The T-block is formed on the sleeve G, which extends into the sleeve B of the carrier.

"lhe valve-rod H is secured to the valve J and extends up through the sleeve G and T- block and is free to rotate therein. The collars h and h on the rod H lock the T-block against end movement on the rod H. The valve J is placed in a chamber K, and it and chamber may be of any desired construction. A centripetally-acting spring I is secured by its tension to the blocks F and circles up over the weight-arms. It connects the weights directly-that is, the opposing base of the spring relatively to its action on either weight is the companion weight-so that the full force of the spring is exerted on the weights themselves. p

- The operation of the governor is as follows: The center of gravity is approximately at the pin f, and the spring I draws from these points directly through the center of the carrier, so that the centrifugal and centripetal forces are directly opposed, and these forces act in the well-known manner-4'. 8., an acceleration of speed increases the centrifugalforce'of 'the weights. and this increased centrifugal force overcomes the centripetal force of the spring and in consequence the weights move out- Wardly from thg axis of rotation or carriercenter, establishing a new position where the steam-supply will accommodate the new load at the predetermined speed. It will be noted that the links Fform in efiect a toggle-joint, so that as the weights separate the T-block G the rod H and valve J are moved down or inwardly, thus decreasing the areaof the passage at the valve and so decreasing the supply of the engine, and as the spring and weights are so proportioned that the centripetal and centrifugal forces are balanced only at a predetermined speed it follows that the movement of the weights and consequently the valve must continue until there has been a sufficient closure of the valve to so decrease the supply as to give to the engine just suffigal force just described this governor acts upon the same principle as the governors of this type heretofore made-i. 8., is a centrifugal governor, although its construction is novel; but in addition to the centrifugal force as a governing agent we employ tangential and angular inertia forces, particularly the latter, and a leading feature of our invention consists in so constructing a governor of this type as to make either or both these forces prominent. By tangential inertia we mean the tendency of a body having rotary motion to continue moving in a direction tangent to the arc of rotation of the center of gravity and at approximately the speed acquired in rotating. In a governor this force is manifested by a tendency of the weight to move forward relatively to the carrier when there is a decrease in the speed of the carrier and to lag when there is an acceleration of the carrier. In the governor shown the Weights are at their inward position and arranged for the greatest possible supply of steam or other agent. Assuming that there is a sudden acceleration in speed, indicating a decrease in the load, this increase in speed is communicated to the carrier revolving as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3. The weights do not take up this increased motion immediately, but by reason of their inertia exert a force against this movement tangential to their are of rotation and in a direction opposite to direction of travel. Now it will readily be seen that a force exerted at the center of gravity and in adirection described will act to swing the weight outwardly, and this movement, acting through the links F, moves the valve to decrease the supply. lVhen there is a decrease in the speed, this force acts in the opposite direction and tends to open the valve.

By angularinertia we mean the tendency of a body rotating about its center of gravity to continue this rotation at uniform speed. Thus in the governor shown the center of gravity of the weights is approximately at the pin f, and with every revolution of the governor there is a revolution of the weight around this center of gravity. If there is a sudden diminution in the speed of the carrier, the tendency of the weight is to continue rotation about the center of gravity, but this.

rotation naturally about the center of gravity is influenced by the pivot 11, which, acting as a fulcrum, diverts this force, so that its energy is directed to a rotation of the weight upon the pivot b. The effect of this decrease in speed and the angular inertia incident to it is to cause the weight to swing in, and this action operating through the links raises the valves and increases the supply to the engine. The effect of this angular inertia is instantaneous and is much more rapid and powerful than the action of centrifugal force at the momentof change. The governor, therefore, which is so constructed as to utilize all those forces working in harmony, must therefore be much more sensitive and powerful than a governor utilizing less than all of them,which of course is a great desideratum.

To make the angular inertia effective, the mass forming the weight must be so distributed or extended that the bulk of the mass is remote from the center of gravity. \Ve use the terms distributed or extended mass to distinguish from a compact mass, which in consequence is largely immediately adjacent to or accumulated about the center of gravity. Where a compact mass is used, its centrifugal force is so dominant, as compared with the angular inertia force, that the latter exercises practically no effect as a governing agent even if the mechanism is otherwise arranged to utilize it but where the mass is distributed the angular inertia becomes powerful even with small mass, so that the angular inertia forces become as active in the regulation of the governor, if not more so, than the centrifugal force; and, furthermore, where the mass is so distributed that the moment of inertia is large relatively to the mass a steadying effect is introduced. This latter condition may be explained as follows: Where the weights and centripetal element of a governor are adjusted to isochronism, a slight change in speed tends to move the weights rapidly to the limits of their movements, and this movement effecting the speed of the engine tends to effect a rapid counter movement, and these movements are what is termed racing or hunting, but where the moment of inertia is large compared with the mass and the movement of the regulator is produced by angular movement of the weights then the large moment of inertia resists the tendency of the centrifugal moment to produce rapid movement of the weights. sired. This arrangement is of course more eflective when the weights are pivoted near the centers of gravity of the weights, as shown, as the nearer the pivots are to the centers of gravity of the weights the less is their centrifugal moment, and as the location of the pivot does not effect the moment of inertia about the center of gravity it follows that the nearer the pivots are to the centers of gravity the greater this steadying effect, because the ratio of the centrifugal moment to the moment of inertia is the least with the pivots at the centers of gravity.

In the governor shown the mass is distributed by the application of two weights E E, connected by slender arms E so that the mass is remote from the center of gravity at the pin f. It will be understood, however, that the form of the mass or the manner of distribution is not essential so long as the distribution is in fact effected. I prefer, however, that the mass be not only distributed relatively to the center of gravity but also as to the pivot, as shown. It will be noted that the pin f is approximately at the center of gravity and that the spring acts upon this pin so that its centripetal force is di This gives the steadying effect derected approximately through the centerof gravity, and also that the spring force acts in 'a line running through the axis of rotation. Thus the centrifugal force and centripetal force are directly opposed, so that none 'of the centrifugal force is exerted upon the pivot. By reason of this construction a centrifugal force of sufficient power can be obtained with a comparatively small mass, and as the pivot is relieved of this force the friction and Wear upon it is much less than ordinarily. By connecting the weights by a spring having its force directed through the axis of rotation the parts and forces are balanced and may be arranged symmetrically.

The links lock the weights together so as to compel a uniform action from them and also a movement of the regulator with each movement ofthe weights. Their attachment to the weights is a double joint and their connection with the T-block in connection with the rotative feature of said block also forms a double joint, so that there is no binding incident to the peculiar movement around the pivot b and'in and out from the T-block. The links in all, positions forming opposing radii from the center of the carrier maintain the blocks F facing in uniformly opposite directions, and these faces form the bearings for the spring, which bearings are diametrically opposed, the spring readily maintains its seat thereon, and as the links are secured to the weights substantially as their centers of gravity the pull by the weights to overcome the friction of the valve and parts does not produce a fulcruming effect on the pivots of the weights and the friction is consequently reduced.

While the details of construction form essential features ofthe preferred form of our invention, we do not wish to be understood that the invention in its; broader phases is limited to the details of construction shown.

In Fig. 4 we have shown an alternative construction, and instead of the throttlingvalve connectionv as a regulator we have shown a bell-crank mechanism L, one arm of which is placed between collars h h? on the rod I'I, so that the bell-crank is operated by the governor. This bell-crank, in connection with any of the well-known attachments, (not shown,) forms the regulator actuated by the governor, and in this construction, as with the throttle-valve regulator, the powerful, sensitive, and rapid action of the governor is effective and advantageous. It will be noted that in the governor shown the regulator is only moved when there is a change in the location of the governor-weights and that the regulator is normally at rest.

We do not claim, broadly, in this application the peculiar arrangement of spring shown, as this forms the subject-matter of a separate application filed the 20th day of September, 1897, Serial No. 652,291.

What we claim as new is 1. In a governor of the type described the combination of the weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is 2. In a governor of the type described the combination of two weights symmetrically placed and locked to act in unison and each of said Weights having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force, a regulator operated by oscillatory or reciprocating movement but normally at rest; and means connecting the weights with the regulator and arranged to communicate the governing movement of the weights to the regulator.

8. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; a weight pivoted on said carrier with the axis of its pivot substantially parallel to the'axis on which the carrier rotates, said weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia force; a regulator operated by an oscillatory or reciprocating movement; mechanism arranged to move in the direction of or parallel to the axis of the carrier and to actuate the regulator by its movement; and means for communicating the action of the weight to said mechanism and for converting the pivotal movement of the weight on the carrier to an oscillatory or reciprocating movement in the regulator.

4. In a governor of the type described, the

combination of a rotative carrier; two weights symmetrically placed and locked to act in unison, and each of said weights having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia force and each pivoted on the carrier with the axis of its pivot substantially parallel to the axis on which the carrier rotates; a regulator operated by an oscillatory or reciprocating movement; mechanism arranged to move in the direction of or parallel to the axis of the carrier and to actuate the regulator by its movement; and means for communicating the action of the weights to said mechanism. and for converting the pivotal movement of the weights on the carrier to an oscillatory or reciprocating movement in the regulator.

5. In a governor of the type described the combination of the weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force and to make active the tangential inertia force; a regulator operated by oscillatory or reciprocating movement but normally at rest; and means connecting the weight with the regulator and arranged to communicate the governing movement of the weight to the regulator.

6. In a overnor of the type described, the combination of the Weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and arranged to produce an effective angular inertiagoverning force and to make active the tangential inertia and centrifugal forces; a regulator operated by oscillatory or reciprocating movement but normally at rest; and means connecting the weight with the regulator and arranged to communicate the governing movement of the weight to the regulator.

7. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; a weight pivoted on said carrier with the axis of its pivot substantially parallel to the axis on which the carrier rotates, said weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia force and to make active the tangential inertia force; a regulator operated by an oscillatory or reciprocating movement; mechanism arranged to move in the direction of or parallel to the axis of the carrier and to actuate the regulator by its movement; and means for communicating the action of the weight to said mechanism and for converting the pivotal movement of the weight on the carrier to an oscillatory or reciprocating movement in the regulator.

8. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; a weight pivoted on said carrier with the axis of its pivot substantially parallel to the axis on which the carrier rotates, said weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is'remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia force and to make active the tangential inertia and centrifugal forces; a reg ulator operated by an oscillatory or reciprocating movement; mechanism arranged to move in the direction of or parallel to the axis of the carrier and to actuate the regulator by its movement; and means for communicating the action of the weight to said mechanism and for converting the pivotal movement of the weight on the carrier to an oscillatory or reciprocating movement in the regulator.

9. In a governor of the type described, the combination of the weight pivoted with the axis of its pivot substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation and having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and extended on both sides of the pivot and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force; a regulator operated by oscillatory or reciprocating movement but normally at rest; and means connecting the weight with the regulator and arranged to communicate the governing movement of the weight to the regulator.

10. In a governor of the type described, the combination of two weights pivoted with axes substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation, said Weights being symmetrically placed and locked to act in unison and each of said weights having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and extended on both sides of the pivot and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force; a regulator operated by oscillatory or reciprocating movement but normally at rest; and means connecting the weights with the regulator and arranged to communicate the governing movement of the weights to the regulator.

11. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; a weight pivoted on said carrier with the axis of its pivot substantially parallel to the axis on which the carrier rotates, said weight having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and extended on both sides of the pivot and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force; a regulator operated by an oscillatory or reciprocating movement; mechanism arranged to move in the direction of or parallel to the axis of the carrier and to actuate the regulator by its movement; and means for communicating the action of the weight to said mechanism and for converting the pivotal movement of the weight on the carrier to an oscillatory or reciprocating m ovement in the regulator.

12. In a governor the combination of a rotative carrier; two weights pivoted on said carrier with the axes of their pivots substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation, each of said weights having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force; and a spring forming a medium of connection between the weights and arranged to exert its force centripetally upon said weights approximately at or through the center of gravity of the weights.

13. In a governor, the combination of a rotative carrier, two weights pivoted on said carrier with the axes of their pivots substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation, each of said weights having its mass distributed so that the bulk of the mass is remote from its center of gravity and being arranged to produce an effective angular inertia-governing force; a spring forming a medium of connection between the weights and arranged to exert its force centripetally upon said weights approximately at or through the center of gravity of the weights; a regulator operated by an oscillatory or reciprocating movement; mechanism arranged to move in the direction of or pa 'allel to the axis of the carrier and to actuate the regulator by its movement; and means for communicating the action of the weights to said mechanism and for converting the pivotal movement of the weights on the carrier to an oscillatory or reciprocatin g movement in the regulator.

14:. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; a weight pivoted on said carrier with the axis of its pivot approximately parallel to the axis of the carrier; a regulator; mechanism as the block G at the axis of the carrier connected with and arranged to actuate the regulator by a movement in line with the axis; and a link connecting the weight approximately at the center of gravity with said mechanism and arranged to communicate the movement of the weight to the mechanism.

15. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; a weight pivoted on said carrier with the axis of its pivot approximately parallel to the axis of the carrier; a regulator; mechanism as the block G at the-axis of the carrier connected with and arranged to actuate the regulator by the movement in line with axis; a link connecting the weight approximately at the center of gravity/with said mechanism and arranged to communicate the movement of the weight to the mechanism; and ,a centripetally-acting spring arranged to exert its force against the weight approximately at or through the center of gravity in said weight.

- 16. In a governor of the type described, the combination of arotative carrier; two weights pivoted on said carrier With the axes of their pivots approximately parallel to the axis of the carrier, said weights being located on opposite sides of the axis of the carrier; a regulator; mechanismas the block G at the axis of the carrier connected with and arranged to actuate the regulator by a movement in line with the axis; links connecting said weights approximately at the center of gravity with said mechanism at the axis and arranged to communicate the movement of the weight to the mechanism; and a spring forming a medium of connection between said weights approximately at or through the center of gravity of said weights.

17. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; two weights pivoted on said carrier with the axes of their pivots approximately parallel to the axis of the carrier, said weights being located on opposite sides of the axis of the carrier; a regulator; mechanism as the block G at the axis of the carrier connected with and arranged to actuate the regulator by a movement in line with the axis; links connecting said weights approximately at the center of gravity with said mechanism at the axis and arranged to communicate the movement of the weight, to the mechanism; and a spring forming a medium of connection between said weights and arranged to exert its force opposingly upon said weights in a line through the axis of rotation.

18. In a governor of the type described, the combination of a rotative carrier; two weights pivoted on said carrier with the axes of their pivots approximately parallel to the axis of the carrier said weights being located on opposite sides of the axis of the carrier; a regulator; mechanism as the block G at the axis of the carrier connected with and arranged to actuate the regulator by a movement in line with the axis; links connecting said weights approximately at the center of gravity with said mechanism at the axis and arranged to communicate the movement of the weight to the mechanism; and a spring forming a medium of connection between said weights and arranged to exert its force opposingly upon said Weights in a line through the axis of rotation, and approximately at or through the center of .gravity of said Weights. 19. In a governor of the type described, the combination of the rotative carrier B; the weight comprising the members E and E connected by an arm E said weight being pivoted on the carrierintermediately of the members E and E; a regulator operated by oscillating or reciprocating movement, but normally at rest; and means connecting the weights with the regulator and arranged to communicate the governing movement of the weights to the regulator.

20. In a governor of the type described, the combination of the rotative carrier B; two Weights each comprising members E and E connected by an arm 11 and each of said Weights being pivoted on the carrier intermediately of its members; a regulator; mechanism as G at the axis of the carrier connected with and arranged to actuate the regulator; pivot-pins f on said weight-arms; links F connecting said pins with the mechanism at the axis of the carrier; and the spring I acting on the Weights through the pins f.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK H. BALL. BERT 0. BALL. Witnesses as to Frank H. Ball:

JULIAN SooTT, WV. H. GRIFFIN. Witnesses as to Bert 0. Ball:

0. SMALLEY, H. C. LORD. 

